Hot peat baths (40 - 45 °C) are used in rehabilitation medicine to treat pain, increase perfusion and relax muscles. Because of substantial heat stress (core body temperature increased by 1 - 1.5 °C within 30 min) patients´ linear HRV parameters are influenced due to sympathovagal activity. The aim of the observational study was to investigate reactions of the cardiac autonomic nervous system detected by means of nonlinear parameters of HRV during a peat baths procedure.

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